the goan I network
MARGAO
Union government’s budget proposal to bring NRIs under the tax net has sent Goan seafarers into a tizzy, with seafarers saying the taxation proposal is a final nail on the seafarers’ coffin.
With reports on the social media speaking of changes proposed in the budget qualifying a particular citizen as NRI, anxious seafarers were trying to figure out whether the government decision will overnight take away the status of seafaring community as NRIs. It was pointed out that they will have to work aboard a vessel for eight months to qualify them for the NRI status.
High Court lawyer, Adv Cleofato Coutinho said the budgetary proposal to bring NRIs, who are not paying taxes in any country, under the tax net will also affect the seafaring community.
Aam Admi Party state convenor Elvis Gomes tweeted that the IT Act amendment to tax NRIs income will be cruelty against the large workforce, particularly in the Gulf countries and the seamen, whose tenures at sea often get cut short.
Elvis has urged the Union Finance Minister N Sitharaman to reconsider the decision, even as he urged Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to appraise the Finance Minister of the Goa situation.
Terming the taxation proposal a final nail on the seafarer’s coffin, Capt Venzy Viegas, representing AAP seafarers & NRI Cell strongly objected to these new changes in the budget related to the NRIs, terming the budget as anti-NRIs.
“Seafarers have always been victims of several difficulties and none have been addressed to the satisfaction of the sailing community. The latest Union Budget proposal to amend the Income Tax Act to bring Non Resident Indian (NRI) in the tax bracket seems to be the final nail on the coffin,”he said, adding that AAP Seafarers & NRI cell strongly objects to these new changes in the budget related to NRIs.
Saying that ship managers and ship owners make seafarers cry to get six months sailing time, Capt Viegas said “now eight months will be required that too amid recession in the shipping industry”.
He said Indian seafarers will be hard hit due to lack of clarity whether the present proposed 240 days will be applicable to Rule-126 of the IT Department related to seafarers.
Spokesman of the Goan Seamen Association of India (GSAI) Dixon Vaz said that thousands of Indian seafarers will be affected if what is being circulated on the NRI status is correct. “Most of the seafarers have 3-6 months contracts. With the proposed changes, they will have to stay on board for more than eight months (241 days) to avoid taxation.
Former Margao Municipal Chairperson Savio Coutinho echoed similar sentiments.
